Mixed Reactions to Obama’s Gun Proposals
The public is closely tracking the debate: 43% followed news about the proposals very closely and 29% followed fairly closely.
Obama’s Gun Policy Announcement
President Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden Wednesday unveiled their proposals for preventing the kind of mass shootings that most recently occurred at an elementary school in Newtown, Ct. Here are some of our public opinion findings that relate to some of what they had to say.
In Gun Control Debate, Several Options Draw Majority Support
There are clear areas of agreement when it comes to a number of gun policy proposals like background checks for gun sales. But there are big partisan divides on others.
Modest Change in Opinion about Gun Control
While support for controlling gun ownership has increased in the wake of the Newtown shootings, the change since July has been modest.
Newtown Sparks Calls for Gun Reform in Social Media, Opinion Pages
The shooting rampage in a Connecticut elementary school last week triggered a conversation different from other recent U.S. gun tragedies.
Public Attitudes toward Gun Control
Public opinion on previous mass shootings has been divided and unchanged.
Views on Gun Laws Unchanged After Aurora Shooting
There has been no significant change in public views on the issue of gun control and gun rights following the July 20th shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. Other recent major shootings also had little effect on public opinion about gun laws.
The Generation Gap and the 2012 Election
In the last four national elections, generation has mattered more in American elections than it has in decades. This continues to be true as voters look ahead toward the 2012 general election. In a contest between President Obama and Mitt Romney, there is a 20-point gap in support for Obama between Millennials and the over-65 Silent generation.
Shifting Political Winds
Americans’ are less discontent with the federal government but no more ready for political compromise. Views of Congress remain heavily negative, while Obama’s ratings stay positive. On social issues, the public is, for the first time, evenly split on gay marriage, while support for legal abortion, legalized marijuana — but not gun control — have all risen.
No Shift Toward Gun Control After Tucson Shootings
The public remains divided — and deeply so along party lines — on the issue of gun control and gun rights. Most Americans say tragic events like the shooting are just the isolated acts of troubled individuals, and not a reflection of broader problems in American society.
